Insulator-clamp.



A. L. SMITH. INSULATOR CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED 0011.23, 1913.

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Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFTQE.

All/IOS L. SMITH, OF NOKESVILLE, VRGINIA.

INSULATOR-CLAMP.

Application led October 533, 1913.

To all Iwhom it may concern Be it known that 1, Amos L. SMITH, a citizenof the United States, residing at Nokesville, in the county of Princelllilliam and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Insulator Clamps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in clamps to detachably connect awire with insulators, such as are ordinarily used in Stringing telegraphwires.

The invention aims to provide means of the above mentioned character,which are extremely simple in construction, convenient in use,inexpensive to manufacture, selflocking, and will remain in place upon agrooved insulator, without the use of means for holding the same againstlateral displacement.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

ln the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame, Figure 1 is a plan view of a clamp embodying my invention, thesame being shown in use, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, Fig. 3is a plan view of the saine showing the parts thereof in an open orpartly opened position, Fig. l is a perspective view of the cla-mpremoved, Fig. 5 is a plan view of a slightly different form of clamp,and, Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same.

1n the drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of myinvention, the numeral 10 designates an insulator, which is preferablycylindrical and is provided near its upper end with an annular groove11. This insulator may be formed of glass, por oelain or the like, as iswell known,

My improved clamp comprises a section of wire 12 or other flexiblematerial, provided between its ends with a looped portion 13, for receiving the wire 14, to be detachably connected with the insulator 10. Thesection of wire 12 or flexible element is preferably provided at itsopposite ends, as more clearly shown in Fig. el, with eyes or loops 15.

The numeral 16 designates a main prefer ably approximately L-shapedframe, compri sing L-shaped plates 17, which are spaced and superposed,when in use. One end of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1314:.

Serial No. 796,792.

the main frame is provided with a reduced hook-extension 18, adapted toenter the annular groove 11.y This hook-extension is preferablypivotally connected with one arm of the main frame 16 and when thuspivoted the same is arranged between the L-shaped plates 17 andpivotally connected therewith by means of a transverse pin 19. Thereduced hookextension passes through one of the eyes 15. rlhe arms ofthe L-shaped plates 17 extend toward the annular groove 11 of theinsulator, as shown.

The numeral 2O designates a bell-crank operating lever, arranged betweenthe opposite ends of the L-shaped plates 17, and pivoted thereto, asshown at 21, at a point spaced from the other arm of the same. The armsof this bell-crank operating lever extend toward the annular groove 11of the insulator. The transverse arm 22 of this lever is apertured, asshown at 23, for receiving the other eye 15, such apertured end beingadapted to extend within the annular groove 11.

1n the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and (i, the reducedpivoted hookeztension 18'is dispensed with, and a reduced hook extension1S is employed, which is rigidly connected with the end of the frame 16,such reduced hookextension passing into the annular groove 11, as willbe explained.

ln the use of the device, the hook-extension is disconnected from theeye 15 so that the same may be applied to the insulator, the flexibleelement or wire 12 being arranged within the groove 11. This being done,the operating bell-crank lever will assume the outer position, asclearly shown in Fig. 3. The wire 14 may n w be passed through the loop13. The operating bellcrank lever 2O is now swung inwardly toward theinsulator, the same being so constructed that its pivot point 21 will bemoved past dead center with respect to the apertured end 23, before thelongitudinal arm of the bell-crank lever engages the section of wire, asbest illustrated in Fig. 1. 1When the several parts of the device occupytheir closed positions, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, the reducedhook-extension 18 enters the annular groove 11, while the apertured end23 of the transvese arm 22 of the operating bell-crank lever 2O alsoenters the annular groove 11, whereby the entire device is positivelyheld from lateral displacement,

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either up or doivn, Without the employment of additional securing means.The operation of the modiiied form of the invention, shown in Figs. 5and 6, is identical in all substantial respects with that of the firstform of the invention, and it is thought that the same need not bestated.

lt is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention -or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, l: claim l. A device of the characterdescribed, comprising a main frame provided at one end With a reducedhook-extension adapted to enter the annular groove of an insulator, abell-crank lever pivotally Aconnected with the opposite end of the mainframe and having lits inner end adapted to enter the annular groove ofthe insulator, and a leXible element adapted to be arranged Within theannular groove and connected With the reduced hook-extension and withthe linner end of the bell-crank lever.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a main approximatelyL-shaped frame provided at one end With a reduced hook-extension adapted-to enter the annular groove of an insulator, a bell-crank leverpivotally lconnected With the opposite end of the main frame and havingits inner end adapted to enter the annular groove of the insulator, anda Wire connected with said inner end of the bell-crank lever and havingits opposite end provided with an eye for detachable connection with thereduced hook-extension of the main frame.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a bell-crank leverhaving its arms extending inwardly toward an insulator with vthe innerend of one arm adapted for insertion Within the annular groove of theinsulator, a main approximately L-shaped frame having its arms extendinginwardly toward the insulator, means pivotally connecting one end of theapproxi- -mately L-shaped frame With the bell-crank lever, ahook-extension pivotally connected with the opposite end of theapproximately L-shaped frame and adapted to enter the annular groove ofthe insulator, and a Wire connected with `the bell-crank lever andhaving its opposite end looped for receiving the `hool-eXtension.

1n testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

AMOS L. SMITH. Witnesses R. E. l/Vrnn, L. C. DUNCAN.

Copies of this partent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

